Mark is a 12-year-old boy from Kenya. His health challenges began at birth. He was born with severe clubfoot, blindness in his right eye, and was unable to cry like other newborns. He was later diagnosed with brain damage, which affected his feeding and overall development. Mark has experienced significant developmental delays; he was able to walk at the age of five but has never developed speech. Despite these medical challenges, Mark’s mother has remained supportive, taking each day as it comes. In 2019, Mark was enrolled in a regular school. However, it was difficult for him to keep up with his class because of his hearing difficulties. It was recommended that Mark be fitted with hearing aids to help him with school and his interactions with others. Mark’s father works as a casual driver, and his mother is a domestic worker. Together, they work tirelessly to provide for their two children, aged 12 and 2, ensuring their basic needs are met. Unfortunately, their limited income prevents them from affording hearing aids. Yet, access to them would go a long way in supporting Mark’s speech development and greatly improving his quality of life. Mark’s parents are now reaching out for support, hoping he can receive hearing aids and have a chance at a better future. On January 14th, Mark will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 for Mark. Mark’s mother says, “I believe hearing aids would help Mark develop his speech and finally be able to communicate with those around him.”

Altiya is a lively baby girl with boundless curiosity from Ethiopia. She is always exploring and playing with anything she can find around her. Toys and other items captivate her, reflecting her joyful spirit. The name “Altiya” means “happy” in Afan Oromo, and her family was overjoyed when she was born. Altiya lives in a single room with her parents and her paternal grandparents. Her mother is a dedicated housewife, while her father works as a farmer, providing for the family through agricultural activities. Farming sustains both her immediate family and her father’s extended relatives. Altiya was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital abnormality that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. When her mother first noticed Altiya’s condition, panic set in, and she struggled to believe that a surgical solution was possible. It took two months, but with the support of their family, her mother eventually decided to seek medical help. After visiting a local hospital, they were referred for further treatment. However, upon learning about the high costs involved, Altiya's mother felt overwhelmed and began to lose hope, unsure of how to proceed. After reaching out to those around her, Altiya's mother learned about Mother Teresa Mission from a neighbor and decided to seek help there. The MOC staff provided invaluable support, helping them travel to Addis Ababa for advanced treatment. They arranged accommodation, meals, and other essential services, and guided them to the Bethany kids center. This collaboration opened doors for Altiya, enabling her to receive the necessary care without the burden of financial stress. Her first surgery was remarkable and successful, restoring hope for the future. With deep gratitude, her mother expresses sincere appreciation for the support they have received and looks forward with hope to the success of the upcoming procedures. Altiya is scheduled to undergo another surgery to correct her condition on March 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Altiya's procedure and care. After her recovery, Altiya will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Altiya's mom said, "I am truly grateful for your incredible support. After this treatment journey, I feel happy knowing that my child will be healthy following the surgery. Please continue to provide your support; it means the world to us."

Eyuel is a bright and joyful three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves to run and play football, his favorite sport, with other neighborhood kids. He is currently in kindergaten and enjoys going to school every day. Eyuel lives with his mother, father, and his eight-month-old baby sister. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a farmer on a rented land, earning wages once a year from the farm’s harvest. Their income is very limited and barely covers the family’s basic needs.To supplement his farming income, Eyuel’s father also takes on extra casual work to support the household. About a year ago, Eyuel's parents noticed something was not quite right, and there was difference in how he was passing urine. They took him to a government referral hospital, where, unfortunately, he was placed on a long waiting list for surgical care. Sometime later, he was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Despite the challenges of waiting for care, Eyuel’s parents have remained strong. They shared: “We will do everything we can to get him treated. We reached out to friends and family, but we could not afford the surgery. We pray for support on this journey. It hurts us to see him suffer, but we cannot question God. We accept it and hope for his healing.” Eyuel was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Eyuel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyuel's father says: "We hope that our son will get the surgery and get better. I really wish to see him heal and thrive. I came here praying for his healing and that is what I am hoping for."

Brian is a 17-year-old boy from Kenya. His father is a primary school teacher. Brian is due to start school and is worried about missing lessons and falling behind in the syllabus. Education is very important to him, and he hopes to resume his studies as soon as possible. Three weeks ago, Brian experienced a convulsion and fell into a fire. As a result, he sustained severe burns to his leg. He was eventually brought to the hospital, where the surgical team assessed him. The surgeon managed his injuries through multiple dressing changes, surgical debridement, and, due to the severity of the burns, amputation of one toe. Brian was later placed on a wound vacuum (VAC) to support healing. At present, his condition is stable, and he is doing relatively well. However, he still requires a skin graft to achieve proper wound coverage and complete healing. On January 6th, Brian is scheduled to undergo a skin graft procedure, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,183 to fund his procedure and care. Brian says, "I hope that after the skin graft, my hospital stay will be reduced. I should be in form four, and I don't want to fall behind, especially with the syllabus. My goal is to take after my father, be a teacher, and aim higher to head a teachers' organization in the future. Please help me. "

Kalkidan is a one-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is a delightful baby girl with a natural curiosity, always eager to explore her surroundings and engage in playful activities with her siblings. As the fourth child in her family, her entrance into the world was marked by a moment of profound distress for her mother; on the day of her birth, Kalkidan's eldest brother was gravely ill and in the ICU. This backdrop of anxiety cast a shadow over her arrival, as her family rallied in hopes of supporting her brother's recovery. Kalkidan lives with her parents and her three siblings, a sister and two brothers, in a rented home. Her mother, a dedicated housewife, manages the household, while her father works as a daily laborer, striving to provide for the family. They often face financial challenges, sometimes prompting her mother to request additional time from the landlord to meet their rent obligations. At one point, their economic struggles led to a separation that lasted for some time as they struggled to feed their children. Their journey to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), has sparked excitement, as there is a glimmer of hope for medical intervention for Kalkidan's condition. Kalkidan was born with an anorectal malformation, a condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Kalkidan is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on December 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kalkidan's procedure and care. After her recovery, Kalkidan will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Kalkidan's mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, "I am profoundly thankful for this invaluable service and the divine support that is about to make it possible for my daughter to undergo her surgery and treatment. May God bless each one of you."

Apphia is a 26-year-old woman from Kenya. As the firstborn in a family of three children, Apphia has always borne significant responsibility for her younger siblings. Her parents rely on small-scale farming to support the family. In 2019, Apphia noticed that she was beginning to lose her hearing. She does not recall any unusual event leading up to her condition, only that sounds gradually faded away until, one day, she could not hear at all. At the time, Apphia was in her third year in high school. Despite the challenges, she continued attending school, but struggled to follow the lessons and keep up with her classmates, which affected her performance in the final examinations. Still determined, Apphia enrolled into a secretarial studies course. Despite facing significant communication barriers, she completed the short course, but has unfortunately not been able to secure employment due to her challenges in hearing and understanding others. Apphia went to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, in March this year. She was diagnosed with severe hearing loss and hearing aids were recommended. Since then, she has tried raising funds from friends and relatives for her treatment, unsuccessfully. Over time, she has become increasingly withdrawn, avoiding social spaces and preferring to stay alone. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Apphia receive treatment. On November 12th, she will be fitted with hearing aids to improve her hearing, help her find meaningful employment, and build her life with confidence and independence. Now, Apphia needs help to fund this $1,171 treatment. Apphia says: "I feel as though the world keeps moving forward while I remain held back. It's tough when I have to keep asking people to repeat themselves, I now prefer staying at home."